USA > Missouri > The history of the bench and bar of Missouri : With reminiscences of the prominent lawyers of the past, and a record of the law's leaders of the present > Part 23
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He settled in what was then known as Ripley County, but since its division has become Carter County, and there his son William was born, December 11, 1830. The latter received a good education for those days in Southeast Missouri, finishing his literary educa- tional course at Arcadia College, Arcadia, Missouri, where he graduated with the degree of A. B. He studied law at Louisville Law School, a famous law school in the earlier years, and was admitted to practice in1 1853.
He began practice in 1854 and continued as a regular practitioner until the date of his marriage in 1862, when he removed to St. Francois County and located on a farm. He only remained there for about a year, however, as evidently finding agriculture unsuited to his inclinations, he moved to Farmington, the county seat of the same county, where he lias continued to reside since.
In the same year of his marriage (1862) Judge Carter was elected to the Circuit Bencli of that Judicial District. Six years later lie was re-elected as his own successor, and served continuously until 1874. With the exception of the twelve years he sat upon the bench, the Judge has practiced his profession continuously since 1854-a period of forty-four years. In 1874, on his retirement from the bench, he was the recipient of further honors at the hands of his fellow-citizens, who elected him to represent St. Francois County in thic Legislature. An instance of his standing among his fellow-members is to be seen in the fact that he was a member of both the Ways and Means and the Judiciary Committees. Of the first-named committee he was the Chairman. His record as a Legislator was a notable one. His talents at ouce drew attention to himself, and both through these powerful committees as well as on the floor of the House, he exercised a most potent influence on legislation during that session.
'Throughout his carcer Judge Carter has construed the duties conferred by an adoption of the legal profession rather strictly. He holds that to pay proper court to the Blind God- dess, one must abandon every other pursuit, and hence he has permitted himself to become interested in few affairs outside the law. However, his devotion to his town has led him to relax the rule in every movement relating to its welfare, and thus he has lent moral and matcrial support to all such measures. At the present time he is interested in the Farm- ington Bank, of which he is a Director and the Vice-President. In fraternal circles he is known as a Mason of long standing.
Judge Carter was married March 27, 1862, to Maria McIlvaine, daughter of Col. J. H. McIlvainc, of Potosi, Missouri. The couple have reared a most interesting family, which
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consists of five sons and two daughters. The eldest son, Jesse McIlvaine Carter, adopted the army as a profession, and is now an officer in the United States service, connected with the Fifth Cavalry. William Francis Carter, the second son, followed his father's example, and is at this date a practicing attorney in St. Louis, and gives indication of reaching a degree of success equally as high as his sire has achieved. Thomas Bailey Carter, the third son, is a successful electrical engineer. The next in age, Charles Hardin Carter, is also a lawyer, but so far has refused to leave his native town and is therefore practicing at Farin- ington. Edwin Farnham Carter is a minor, and yet remains in his father's house. Clem- entine Chilton, the eldest daughter, is now the wife of Dr. M. A. Bliss, a practicing physician of St. Louis, while her younger sister, Grace Allen, is still a school girl at liome.
Judge Carter's long career in Southeast Missouri has won him that meed of honor and esteein to which the rigid uprightness and usefulness of his life entitle him. No name is more respected in that part of the State than his. Though he has done his full share of labor, and has contributed to his State seven children, whom he has reared to be honorable, self-respecting and useful men and women, lie still continues to do that which duty appor- tions him to do, and still in the full vigor of life, he has no thought of shirking any obliga- tion on account of those he has already discharged. Naturally of strong and aspiring mind, his ripe experience as lawyer and jurist and in the various affairs of life has given him a fund of knowledge which makes him worthy of the highest respect and honor, and hence it is that his neighbors defer to him. They have confidence in liis wisdom and experience, and therefore they accept his word as law.
CHAMP CLARK, BOWLING GREEN.
URELY one of the most gifted men that Missouri has sent to Congress in recent S years is Champ Clark, of Bowling Green, Representative in the Fifty-fifth Congress from the Ninth District. He is a native of Kentucky (as are almost everybody else, or their parents, in Pike County), having been born near Lawrenceburg, Anderson County, March 7, 1850. He was educated in the common schools, later took a course at Kentucky University, at Lexington, and completed his schooling at Bethany College, West Virginia, where he graduated with high honors in 1873. His legal training was acquired at the Cin- cinnati Law School, from which he received his degree of LL. B. in 1875. This schooling was secured only by hard and persistent effort, as he was compelled to be self-sustain- ing. Between 1865 and 1876 he worked at whatever offered, laboring as a hired hand on a farm, clerking in country stores, and at intervals teaching school until he had secured the coveted educational culture. Prior to entering the Cincinnati Law School he was, from 1873 to 1874, President of Marshall College, the first Normal School established in West Vir- ginia. Still continuing his vocation as a school teacher, he came to Missouri in 1875 as principal of the High School at Louisiana, where, after he had completed his term as instructor, he located and engaged in practice, and has since practiced in Pike County continuously, excepting the periods he has been engaged in the public service.
It was not reasonable to expect that a man of his qualifications could long remain in obscurity. His talents naturally fitting him for a public career, he soon came to be looked upon by his fellow-citizens as a political leader. He was at different times City Attorney of Louisiana, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and then Prosecuting Attorney of
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Pike County. In 1879 he became the editor of the Riverside Press, now the Louisiana Press, and this vocation partly served to demonstrate his marked versatility. In 1880 Mr. Clark removed to Bowling Green, and that town has since been his home.
In 1880 he was one of his party's Presidential Electors. In 1881 he married Miss Genevieve Bennett, an estimable young lady of Callaway County. In 1891 he was elected by Pike County to the Legislature, and as a matter of course was a commanding leader in that body, wielding perhaps a larger degree of influence than any other member of the House. In 1892 he was elected to the Fifty-third Congress. That in his first term he was able to forge to the front rank in that body and win the attention of the entire country, gives some idea of his talent and ability. In 1896 he was again elected to Congress, and it may be predicted that he is destined to become one of the State's greatest lead- ers in the National Legislature.
Champ Clark is a man of exceptional individuality. He is original in all things. He is, in fact, Champ Clark, and no other man was ever created like himn. He is sui generis. In his presence you feel that here is a inan who feels, thinks and acts for him- self; that he is a strong, fully developed, forceful character, natural, and richly endowed by Nature. He is rather too forceful, courageous and straightforward to be a good poli- tician, but his qualifications do attain the standard of statesmanship. He is an eloquent speaker and a fluent writer, and in every campaign of recent years he has been a power on the stump for Democracy.
Of him Amos J. Cummings, his colleague in Congress, and like Clark, a close observer of men and events, and a thinker as well, says:
"Probably the most picturesque figure in the House is Champ Clark, of Missouri. Clean-faced, blue-eyed and natty in appearance, he is as quaint in delivery as are his utterances. He has a clear, ringing voice that gathers in strength as he drives home the logic of each sentence. He begins each paragraph well back in a side aisle, and burning with enthusiasm, walks down the aisle towards the Speaker's desk, clinching his proposition twenty feet away from it. Every eye is upon him. Rarely does any one interrupt him. It would be dangerous, for Champ is as apt at repartee as the Speaker himself, and twice as blunt. His tropes, metaphors and simniles are sparkling and quaintly original. At times they arouse uncontrollable merriment, but the residuum develops thought, if not conviction. Champ Clark has hoed his own way in life and has finally won National fame. Although only forty-seven years old, lie has been a farmuer, a clerk in a country store, an editor of a country newspaper, a country lawyer, a college President, a Prosecut- ing Attorney, a Presidential Elector, a member of the Missouri Legislature, and a Con- gressman. He sprang a surprise on Tammany Hall four years ago at a Fourth of July celebration. Joseph C. Hendrix had woven anti-silver sentiments into his tapestry of patriotism, and Champ paralyzed the braves by deftly drawing them out and substituting sentiments that foreshadowed the Chicago Platform of 1896. From that day to the present lie has been an ardent advocate of free silver aud a devoted follower of Richard P. Bland. In the present House (the Fifty-fifth Congress), however, he probably will take an active part in debate on matters concerning Cuba and Hawaii, as he is a member of the Commit- tee on Foreign Affairs. His speeches are apparently unstudied and spring directly from the heart. Impulsive, sympathetic, magnetic and absolutely fearless, he is a figure not only . picturesque, but one that may command the attention of the Nation as completely as he has commanded that of the House."
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WILLIAM HICKMAN CLOPTON, SAINT LOUIS.
W ILLIAM HICKMAN CLOPTON, United States District Attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, is a native of Alabama, and was born near Huntsville, August 24, 1847. His father, Dr. James Alexander Clopton, was a noted physician and surgeon of the South, and his father was a soldier of the War of 1812. His mother was Miss Mary Penney. The family was well-to-do and of social standing, and the son was given a good education, and when ten years of age was sent to Hoffey's Boarding School, situated in northern Alabama. The academic courses were begun at LaGrange Military Institute, of LaGrange, Alabama, which he entered as a cadet in the fall of 1860. From there he went to the Southern University, at Greensborough, Alabama.
But the disturbance and stress of the great war between the States were constantly becoming more pronounced. The armies of the North were continually pushing southward, and Alabama lad need of every one of her sons. Thus it was that the student, though but a boy of sixteen, enlisted as a soldier under the Stars and Bars. He went directly from the college to the Confederate Army, enlisting as a private in the escort of General Daniel Adams.
In October, 1865, he entered the University of Virginia. In July, 1868, he graduated from the law department of the noted University, standing high among his fellows.
The war had wrought a stupendous change in the South. She lay back exhausted by the struggle to which she had sacrificed the flower of her manhood. The young collegian's family had suffered with the others, and as he inust need make his own way in life, lie was convinced that Alabaina and the Southi then offered sinall opportunity to the young man of energy and ambition, and accordingly determined to seek his fortune to the westward. He reached St. Louis within a few weeks after his graduation from the University of Vir- ginia and was admitted to the bar in that city in October, 1868. Since that date he has been a member of the St. Louis Bar and has pursued his calling with a constantly rising reputation. As a lawyer he is undoubtedly able and gifted, and as a man, is conscien- tious and strictly honorable. There has been little of the pyrotechnic or the sensational in his career as a lawyer, but he is noted rather for his solid attainments and the deptli of his legal learning. There is nothing superficial about him, but much that is genuine and worthy. He is an original and a profound thinker, is an eloquent speaker, and the sincerity of his purpose is stamped on his every action.
He is of warm and rather sanguine tem- perament, but nevertheless, his friendships are sincere and lasting. He is kindly and courteous, genial and sociable, and is a gentleman of culture and æsthetic tastes. He is modest withal and the appointment as United States District Attorney which came to him in 1894, was an unsolicited testimonial of appreciation of his worthi. £ He accepted the office and has discharged its duties with rare tact and splendid ability. Prior to this appoint- ment he had an excellent civil practice, much of this business consisting of land and insurance cases.
Mr. Clopton's wife was Miss Belle Bryan, daughter of Dr. John Gano Bryan, an eminent physician of St. Louis. They were married January 29, 1873, and Mrs. Clopton died November 9, 1893. She was a lady of exceptional culture and refinement. Three chil- dren were born to the union, of whom Malvern B. (21), is now a student at the University of Virginia; William H., Junior (17), is a cadet at Missouri Military Academy at Mexico, and Emily (11), is a student at Sacred Heart Convent at Maryville, Missouri.
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JEREMIAH CHAPLIN CRAVENS, SPRINGFIELD.
A S do so many of the men who occupy an advanced position in the multifarious affairs of present day life in Missouri, Col. Jeremiah Chaplin Cravens, of Springfield, comes of that result-producing blood mixture, the Scotch-Irish, refined and strengthened by being filtered through Virginia down to Missouri. At least the Cravens were of Scotch-Irish extraction, and it is likely our subject received a further inheritance of one or the other, or both of those strains, from the Chaplins, who represent the maternal branch of his genealogical tree, as this family settled in Maryland, at an early day. In Washington County, of that State, Colonel Cravens' mother, who was Ruhannah Chaplin, was born. His father, Dr. John Cravens, was in his day one of the skillful physicians and surgeons of Northwest Missouri, especially excelling in the last named branch and as an oculist. Born and reared in Harrisonburg, Virginia, he removed to Missouri a few months before the birth of his son, the subject of this sketch. Settlement was made in Saline County, but the Doctor remained there but a year or two, removing thence to Gallatin, Daviess County, Missouri, where he spent the balance of his life, dying in March, 1882, at the advanced age of eighty-five.
The Cravenses were among the Colonial settlers of Virginia, reaching these shores in the early part of the Eighteenth Century. The grandfather of our subject was Dr. Joseph Cravens, who was no less skillful in the medical profession than his son John. The former, although but a lad of fifteen at the close of the Revolution, was a private in the Virginia Militia and was at Yorktown when Cornwallis surrendered, and participated in that event. Four of his brothers also risked their lives in that great contest for liberty, and one of thein, Rev. William Cravens, became one of the most noted ministers of the Methodist Church and an early pioneer in the work of the church in Indiana and Illinois.
Jeremialı C. Cravens was born at Miami, Saline County, Missouri, February 18, 1838. This was at the beginning of the short period during which his father resided in that county. When he removed to Daviess, he settled on a farin about two miles from Galla- tin. There the son spent his boyhood, attending such schools as the neighborhood afforded, until he was fourteen years old, at which time his father concluded to move to Gallatin, where he opened a drug store in connection with his practice. The son was placed behind the counter, and with a Latin grammar and lexicon and with his father's assistance, he soon became a fair pharmacist. After that he entered the Masonic College at Lexington, Missouri, from where he went the year following to the State University at Columbia. There his class mate, room-inate and chuin was Hon. Stephen B. Elkins, now Senator from West Virginia. In his class were also Hon. T. B. Catron, now of New Mex- ico, Dr. A. J. Thomas, of Vincennes, Indiana, and a number of others who have since become prominent. The subject of this sketch graduated from the University with the degree of A. B. in the class of 1860.
Scarcely had the young collegian time to settle on a carecr, ere the Civil War flamed forth. He enlisted in the Confederate army at the beginning of hostilities, June 14, 1861, and served four years and one day, as he surrendered June 15, 1865. He passed through m111ch privation, suffered many hardships and encountered many dangers. He enlisted as a private in Missouri State Guards, Slack's Division, was promoted by General Slack to Aide-de-camp in December, 1861, withi rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, but prior to that liad
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participated in the battles of Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Drywood, Fort Scott and the siege of Lexington. He did staff duty in the retreat from Springfield, in February, 1862, led the skirmish line at the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, in March, 1862, and was beside General Slack when he fell mortally wounded, in the first charge. When the army under Van Dorn and Price was transferred east of the Mississippi, he was assigned to the staff of Brigadier-General Martin E. Green, thus accompanied the command to Corinth, Missis- sippi, and participated in the battle of Farmington before the evacuation of that town. The staff being more numerous than suited Colonel Cravens, he resigned and accompanied Col. John T. Hughes back to the Trans-Mississippi department on a recruiting expedition. They organized, near Fayetteville, Arkansas, one hundred Missourians who had served as State Guards but whose time had expired, with Colonel Hughes in command, and Colonel Cravens as First Lieutenant. Thus organized, they inade a raid which resulted in the cap- ture of Independence and 250 prisoners. There Colonel Hughes was killed and Lieutenant Cravens was elected Captain, and a few days thereafter led the company at the battle of Lone Jack. On the retreat to Newtonia, the company became part of the First Regiment of the noted Shelby Brigade, and as such he led it in all the campaigns and engagements of that command until November, 1863, when on the re-organization of the regiment, lie was elected Major. He was constantly in the field, rode with Price in the raid of 1864, and was in the battle of Newtonia, on the last day of October, 1864, the last battle fought on Missouri soil. There Colonel Smith, his superior officer having been mortally wounded and left in the hands of the enemy, Major Cravens was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant- Colonel of Cavalry and held that rank when the Confederacy collapsed.
Colonel Cravens studied law after he came out of the army, such studies being carried forward at Batesville, Arkansas, under the tutelage of Judge William Byers and Hon. James W. Butler, two of the ablest lawyers of Arkansas in that day. He was admitted at Bates- ville in May, 1866, and shortly thereafter located at Springfield, where he has practiced continuously ever since. For many years he ranked high as one of the most expert crim- inal practitioners of the southern part of the State, but about ten years ago he retired from criminal practice altogether, and has since devoted himself exclusively to the civil branch. For the last seven years he has been a division attorney for the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Railway, and has had charge of the principal part of its litigation throughout southern Missouri.
Colonel Cravens' ambition has never taken a political direction, although in all matters of that nature he has always shown a strong interest. He says he "is a Democrat both by instinct and education," although his father would never admit that he was anything but a "Henry Clay Whig." In religion he is a Presbyterian and subscribes to the "Old School" faith of that church. He has been a member of that church for twenty-five years, and for many years past has been one of its ruling elders.
August 11, 1864, while he was a Major in the Confederate service, the subject of this memoir was married at Batesville, Arkansas, to Miss Cynthia D. Smith, daughter of Col. Robert Smith, one of the most prominent citizens of Arkansas. He was a member of Arkansas' first Constitutional Convention and at the beginning of the war was a wealthy planter. Nine children were born to the marriage, five daughters and two sons of whom survive. Colonel Cravens is always sensible of the large share contributed by his wife to his success. Although of frail and delicate constitution, she was a woman of indomitable spirit and heroically seconded the efforts of her husband in the severe struggle of their early
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life, and at all stages her advice and sympathy proved invaluable to him. She was a woman of strong Christian faith, sincere and noble in all the relations of life, and her husband holds her memory in deepest reverence. She died July 7, 1891.
Colonel Cravens remained a widower until July 29, 1897, when he was inarried to Mrs. Marie E. Jacobs, of Kansas City, Missouri, who is well known in her former home as a woman of rare good sense and intelligence, and of devout Christian character. This union was the result of strong mutual affection and similarity of tastes, and is proving to be a very happy one.
THOMAS W. B. CREWS,
SAINT LOUIS.
C OLONEL THOMAS W. B. CREWS, of St. Louis, was born in Henry County, Vir- ginia, March 16, 1832, and was the only child of Gideon Crews and Eliza (Bouldin) Crews. The Crews family is of English origin, but for many generations was resident of Virginia, where it was known as one of the most reputable and wealthy families of that section. Col. Thomas Crews moved with his father and mother, in 1846, to Howard County, Missouri, from which place he shortly afterward entered Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, where he passed through the collegiate course to the end of the junior year. Conceiving at this time a preference for Union College, New York, he presented himself for permission to enter the senior class at Union, and upon examination was admitted. He graduated at the latter institution the following year-1852, and immediately thereafter began the study of law under the preceptorship of Judge John C. Wright, of Schenectady, New York, and afterwards completed a course of legal reading under the Hon. William B. Napton, of Saline County, Missouri, late of the Supreme Bench of this State. In January, 1855, lie began the practice of his profession in Marshall, Saline County, Missouri, which lie con- tinued up to the beginning of the late Civil War.
That contest interrupted his career just at the beginning, as it did that of many other inen who rank foremost in the affairs of the State, and wlio learned the lessons of fortitude and the possibilities of their moral, mental and physical strength in the army. When the Civil War began he took the field in command of a company of Saline County volunteers, under Southern colors. His company was attached to the command of Gen. Monroe Par- sons, and hc subsequently participated in the battles of Boonville, Carthage, Wilson's Crcek, Ft. Scott, Dry Wood and Lexington, at which latter place lie was promoted to the rank of Lientenant-Colonel of the Second Missouri Regiment of Cavalry, for gallantry on the field of battle. Some months later he was incapacitated for active service by illness, and while thus confined to his bed was captured and sent to St. Louis as a prisoner of war. He was soon, however, paroled, and bore the distinction of being the first paroled prisoner of the war in Missouri. Hc was required to report weekly at St. Louis, and made a temporary home in Franklin County, convenient to military headquarters, which county after the war became his permanent home.
In 1866 hic began the practice of law again, in the City of St. Louis, maintaining his residence, however, in the County of Franklin adjoining. His legal practice became exten- sive, and until his death in 1891, he ranked among the ablest practitioners in both the State and Federal Courts. In the ycar 1872 he was solicited to become a candidate for the Dein-
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